LAS VEGAS – Khamzat Chimaev had a heavy run ahead of his scheduled UFC 279 Main Event bout.
Signed with welterweight Nate Diaz, Chimaev hit 178.5 pounds at the official UFC Apex weigh-in in Las Vegas on Friday. This was minutes after Diaz reached 171 pounds.
Chimaev didn’t seem to be too bothered by the number, he bent down and said, “That’s not bad.”
Appeared in Chimaev MMA Junkie was previously informed by multiple sources that there was a weight loss issue. The UFC weigh-in also frequently mentions potential missteps throughout the live broadcast.
It is unclear how the promotion is planned.
While there is no official word on this situation, MMA Junkie has learned that the promotion has a backup plan and is working to finalize it, although it involves multiple parties agreeing to change the situation .
A source told MMA Junkie that Nate Diaz “has no interest in fighting someone over 171 pounds.”
UFC 279 takes place Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card plays pay-per-view after the ESPNEWS prelims and ESPN+ prelims.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s UFC 279 Event Center.
The story originally appeared in MMA Junkie
